Preparing your learners for university study abroad

Richard Cleeve
A young woman taking notes in a lecture theatre, she is sat by other young people.

Whether your learners are going for a single semester, academic year or an entire university course, studying abroad is an excellent opportunity for them. They¡¯ll have the chance to discover a new culture, develop new skills and make new friends.

University study in another country also poses several challenges. But as a teacher, you can equip them for this experience and prepare them for future academic success.

Why study abroad?

Most people think that studying at university is hard enough, without the added difficulty of doing it overseas. But that doesn¡¯t stop hundreds of thousands of university students from leaving the support of family and friends and relocating to a foreign country.

People apply to study in another country for a range of reasons. A university program abroad might offer the student better tuition and a greater promise of future employment or simply represent better value for money. And in the case of very specialist university courses, studying abroad may be the only option.

Whatever the reason, the decision to study in a foreign country is likely to involve a high level of proficiency in another language ¨C and more often than not, that language is English.

A move towards English language in higher education

There has been a significant shift in higher education in the last ten years, as many European institutions look to internationalize their programs. As a result, across Europe, we have seen a sharp growth in the number of university courses taught in English. English-taught bachelor¡¯s programs offered by universities in the have multiplied dramatically over the last decade.?

What challenges do learners face?

Academic skills

There are a whole range of academic skills that students are expected to know when they start university. From research and evaluation, to note-making and referencing, many learners will enter higher education lacking many of the essential skills they require.

Studying in a foreign language

Not only will they have to master new skills, but they may need to do them in a second language. What¡¯s more, even everyday things that fluent speakers may take for granted, such as understanding lectures, reading academic papers, writing essays and even socializing with new friends, will take a lot more effort if English isn¡¯t your first language.

Administrative issues

There are many potential pitfalls for a student in a new academic setting. From the administrative process and campus regulations to the types of lessons and assessments, there may be a lot of differences to deal with. Even understanding the etiquette of addressing and interacting with professors can be daunting.

Problems integrating

Another challenge is integrating into another culture. Even if the host country is culturally similar, adapting to new surroundings is not always straightforward. There can also be a certain amount of ghettoization, where international students might stick together and remain isolated from the local student population.

Homesickness

for international students to deal with. Depending on how far they travel to study, your learners may be unable to return home easily, visit their families and alleviate their homesickness.

Mental health

Moving abroad and living in a completely new place can be very stressful and overwhelming, and many factors can exacerbate/cause . Making it harder to do day-to-day tasks, socialize and study.?

Money worries

Without a grant or a scholarship, studying abroad can be very expensive. If your learners currently live at home with their parents, the cost of accommodation may be formidable. The higher cost of living could mean they have to look for a part-time job to supplement their income. Understanding a country's can also be confusing and hard to calculate into their budget.

What can you do to get your students ready?

All of the challenges mentioned above have one thing in common. If a student cannot communicate effectively, these situations can be exacerbated. Language is key, whether it¡¯s accessing support, communicating with professors or getting to grips with a new culture.

Here are some things you can do to help your learners prepare for university life:

1) Put them in touch with past students

It¡¯s important that your learners have a clear idea of what university study abroad entails. Creating a chance for them to speak to other students who have already gone through that experience can be extremely valuable.

Students who have returned from studying abroad can help with your learners' doubts and put their minds at rest. They might be able to provide essential advice about a specific country or university or simply tell their story. Either way, it¡¯s a great way to reassure and encourage your learners.

2) Use appropriate authentic content

In preparation for your learner¡¯s time abroad, the language course that you teach should align with their future linguistic needs. One of the main aims should be to develop the language skills required to perform successfully and confidently in their new context.

3) Teach them academic study skills

Think back to when you were at university and what you struggled with. Group work, presentations, critical thinking and exam skills are all things which your learners will need to be proficient in, so the more you practice them in class the better.

4) Promote autonomous learning

Success at university is deeply rooted in a student¡¯s ability to work independently and develop practical self-study skills. Giving your learners more choice in the language learning process is one way to encourage autonomy.

Explore our English courses and tests to support your students

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    11 ways you can avoid English jargon at work

    By Steffanie Zazulak

    From ¡°blue-sky thinking¡± to ¡°lots of moving parts¡±, there are many phrases used in the office that sometimes seem to make little sense in a work environment. These phrases are known as ¡®work jargon¡¯ ¨C or you might hear it referred to as ¡®corporate jargon¡¯, ¡®business jargon¡¯ or ¡®management speak¡¯. It¡¯s a type of language generally used by a profession or group in the workplace, and has been created and evolved over time. And whether people use this work jargon to sound impressive or to disguise the fact that they are unsure about the subject they are talking about, it¡¯s much simpler and clearer to use plain English. This will mean that more people understand what they are saying ¨C?both fluent and second-language English speakers.

    The preference for?plain English?stems from the desire for communication to be clear and concise. This not only helps fluent English speakers to understand things better, but it also means that those learning English pick up a clearer vocabulary. This is particularly?important in business, where it¡¯s important that all colleagues feel included as part of the team and can understand what is being said. This, in turn, helps every colleague feel equipped with the information they need to do their jobs better, in the language they choose to use.

    Here, we explore some of the most common examples of English jargon at work that you might hear and suggest alternatives you can use¡­

    Blue-sky thinking

    This refers to ideas that are not limited by current thinking or beliefs. It¡¯s used to encourage people to be more creative with their thinking. The phrase could be confusing as co-workers may wonder why you¡¯re discussing the sky in a business environment.

    Instead of:?¡°This is a new client, so we want to see some blue-sky thinking.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This is a new client, so don¡¯t limit your creativity.¡±

    Helicopter view

    This phrase is often used to mean a broad overview of the business. It comes from the idea of being a passenger in a helicopter and being able to see a bigger view of a city or landscape than if you were simply viewing it from the ground.?Second-language English speakers might take the phrase literally, and be puzzled as to why someone in the office is talking about taking a helicopter ride.

    Instead of:?¡°Here¡¯s a helicopter view of the business.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This is a broad view of the business.¡±

    Get all your ducks in a row

    This is nothing to do with actual ducks; it simply means to be organized. While we don¡¯t exactly know the origin of this phrase, it probably stems from actual ducklings that walk in a neat row behind their parents.

    Instead of:?¡°This is a busy time for the company, so make sure you get all your ducks in a row.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This is a busy time for the company, so make sure you¡¯re as organized as possible.¡±

    Thinking outside the box

    Often used to encourage people to use novel or creative thinking. The phrase is commonly used when solving problems or thinking of a new concept. The idea is that, if you¡¯re inside a box, you can only see those walls and that might block you from coming up with the best solution.

    Instead of:?¡°The client is looking for something extra special, so try thinking outside the box.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°The client is looking for something extra special, so try thinking of something a bit different to the usual work we do for them.¡±

    IGUs (Income Generating Units)

    A college principal alerted us to this one ¨C it refers to his students. This is a classic example of jargon when many more words are used than necessary.

    Instead of:?¡°This year, we have 300 new IGUs.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This year, we have 300 new students.¡±

    Run it up the flagpole

    Often followed by ¡°¡­and see if it flies¡± or ¡°¡­and see if anyone salutes it¡±, this phrase is a way of asking someone to suggest an idea and see what the reaction is.

    Instead of:?¡°I love your idea, run it up the flagpole and see if it flies.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°I love your idea, see what the others think about it.¡±

    Swim lane

    A visual element ¨C a bit like a flow chart ¨C? that distinguishes a specific responsibility in a business organization. The name for a?swim lane?diagram comes from the fact that the information is broken up into different sections ¨C or ¡°lanes¡± ¨C a bit like in our picture above.

    Instead of:?¡°Refer to the swim lanes to find out what your responsibilities are.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°Refer to the diagram/chart to find out what your responsibilities are.¡±

    Bleeding edge

    A way to describe something that is innovative or cutting edge. It tends to imply an even greater advancement of technology that is almost so clever that it is unbelievable in its current state.

    Instead of:?¡°The new technology we have purchased is bleeding edge.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°The new technology we have purchased is innovative.¡±

    Tiger team

    A tiger team is a group of experts brought together for a single project or event. They¡¯re often assembled to assure management that everything is under control, and the term suggests strength.

    Instead of:?¡°The tiger team will solve the problem.¡±?

    Try saying:?¡°The experts will solve the problem.¡±?

    Lots of moving parts

    When a project is complicated, this phrase is sometimes used to indicate lots is going on.

    Instead of:?¡°This project will run for several months and there are lots of moving parts to it.¡±

    Try saying:?¡°This project will run for several months and it will be complicated.¡±

    A paradigm shift

    Technically, this is a valid way to describe changing how you do something and the model you use. The word ¡°paradigm¡± (pronounced ¡°para-dime¡±) is an accepted way or pattern of doing something. So the ¡°shift¡± part means that a possible new way has been discovered. Second-language English speakers however, might not be familiar with the meaning and might be confused about what it actually means.

    Instead of:?¡°To solve this problem, we need a paradigm shift.¡±

    Try saying:?To solve this problem; we need to think differently.¡±